Cistern-form.



G. B. ELLIOTT.

OISTERN FORM.

PLIOATION FILED MAY 9, 1908.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

2 SHEETS-GREEN. 1.

U. B. ELLIOTT.

CISTERN FORM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9,1908.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Clayimfil'll Witnesses W fw CLAYTON IB. ELLIOTT, OF DANVILLE, ILLINOIS.

CISTERN-FORM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

Application filed May 9, 1908. Serial No. 431,923.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLAYTON B. ELLIOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Danville, in the county of Vermilion, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cistern-Forms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to cisterns and similar structures and the forms or mold struc tures for building the same and more particularly to mold devices which are made in sections and adapted to be removed after the structure is completed.

One object of the invention is to improve and simplify the construction of devices of this character and to produce a form or mold which may be readily increased or decreased in size to adapt the device to constructing cisterns of various capacities.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character formed from sections or staves of sheet metal overlapping at their confronting edges and provided with simply constructed fastening or connecting devices whereby a plurallty of the sheets may be united to form the desired size of mold.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a simply constructed device of this character comprising staves or sections of sheet metal and a novel form of latch means to detachably unite the various sections.

WVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings employed for illustrating the invention, is shown the preferred embodiment of said invention, and in the drawings thus employed, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the outer portion of the mold or form, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the device complete, Fig. 3 is a plan view of the improved device. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken through the inner section of the mold. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view through the cover of the cistern.

Cisterns ordinarily constructed of cement are rouglroutside and porous while the sheet metal molds with smooth surfaces'insure smooth and impervious faces to the walls of the cistern.

The improved mold device comprises an outer form conforming to the outer face of the cistern and an inner form with its outer surface conforming to the inner face of the cistern, and including an arched top and an annular frame defining the inlet aperture to the cistern. The mold portions will be constructed from sections or staves with smooth surfaces of sheet metal, the staves of the outer portion being equal in length to the total height of the cistern including the bottom and arched top and the staves of the inner portion equal in length to the vertical inner sides of the cistern, while the staves forming the arched top portion are of a length equal to the distance from the spring of the arch to the outer rim of the central annular frame, the annular frame corresponding in size to the aperture which is to be formed in the cistern. The various sections or staves of the outer mold portion are provided with suitable latch devices which hold the various staves united, but which will permit the staves to be drawn upwardly after the cistern is sufficiently set while the staves of the vertical portion of the inner mold, the staves forming the arched top, and the inner portion of the apertured f'ame are provided with latch devices which will permit the staves and the frame portions to be withdrawn inwardly after the mold has sufficiently set, while the outer portion of the aperture frame is provided with fastening devices which permit this part of the frame to be moved outwardly after the material is set.

Referring now more particularly to the details of the construction of the mold, the character 10 represents the staves of the outer mold portion and the character 11 represents the staves of the inner mold portion which are formed from sheet metal, preferably steel and with smooth faces, and also preferably slightly segmental transversely, so that when a suflicient number of the staves 10 are united with their edges overlapping slightly, they form a complete circle corresponding to the outer diameter of the cistern, and when a plurality of the inner staves 11 are similarly arranged and spaced from the series of the side walls of the cistern, they also form a complete circle corresponding to the inner diameter of the cistern, as shown in Fig. 3.

In practice, the outer staves 10 will be withdrawn upwardly after the cistern material is set while the inner staves 11 are withdrawn inwardly, and suitable latch devices will be employed to temporarily unite the overlapped edges of the various staves which will permit of these movements. The permanent flexible connecting devices between the several staves 1O consist of small brackets 12 riveted to one edge of each of the staves 10 near their upper and lower ends, and are preferably formed from small pieces of sheet metal folded together intermediate their ends to form two thicknesses, and with. the end portions bent at right angles to the central portion and apertured to receive the rivets by which they are fastened to the staves, the folded together portions being each perforated to receive a wire fastening device 13 connected in any suitable manner to the adjacent overlapping edge of the next stave, the two members 1213 thus forming a flexible connecting means between the staves, which will hold them with sufficient rigidity to prevent undue separation between the staves circumferentially of the mold form, but which will permit a sufiicient hinge-like movement be tween the staves to enable them to be disposed in curved position corresponding to the curved outer face of the cistern. All of the staves except one pair as above noted will be provided with the coupling means 1213. One of. the staves 10 of the remain ing pair will also be provided with the fastening devices 12, but the remaining stave will be provided with small plates 14- riveted or otherwise secured to the stave and each provided with an aperture 15 fitting over the folded together portion of the brackets 12, and thus forming detachable fastening means between the staves. A rod 16 is passed down through the apertures in the brackets 12 over which the plates let fit, to form a locking means to hold the staves in position. The rod 16, it will thus be noted, is easily removable from the brackets when the staves are to be released. By this arrangement it will be obvious that the series of staves 10 may be arranged in a circle, the size depending upon the number of staves employed, and detachably united by the plates 14 and the rod 16, and held thereby with sufficient firmness to support the plastic material of which the cistern is constructed until the plastic material is set as hereafter explained.

Each of the staves 11 constituting the inner mold form is provided with staples 17 upon one edge and projecting vplates 18 upon the other edge of each, the plates 18 of one stave adapted to pass through the staples 17 of the next stave, and thus unite the staves with sufficient flexibility to permit them to yield when the staves are to be withdrawn or to adapt themselves to the enlarged or reduced size when a fewer or greater number of the staves are employed to increase or decrease the interior size of the cistern.

Each of the staves 11 except one will be provided with the staples 17 and all of the staves except one provided with the plates 18. One of the staves 11 is provided at the edge opposite to its staples 17 with plates 19 having apertures 20, and the next stave is provided with staples 21, similar to the staples 17 except that they are arranged horizontally instead of vertically and adapted to pass through the apertures 20 in the plates 19 and receive a tie rod 22 passing downwardly through both of the protruding portions of the staples 21 and thus locking the various staves 11 together, in substantially the same manner as the outer staves 10 are locked together by the rod 16. By this arrangement it will be obvious that the various staves 11 of the inner mold form are all flexibly united except one pair of the staves and this pair of the staves are detachably united, so that by removing the rod 22 the staves carrying the plates 19 may q be drawn inwardly and thus release the inner mold form and permit it to be detached, after the cistern material has become sufficiently set, as hereafter explained.

For open cisterns the two staves of metal forms above described only will be required, but generally the cisterns will be provided with an arched or crowning top or cover, and a suitable mold form is provided for constructing this arched or crowning top. The cistern will also be provided with an entrance aperture centrally of the crowning or arched top and a mold form is provided for constructing this entrance, and consist-s of an annular inner frame 23 with its ends overlapping and secured detachably by a fastening device similar to that shown for detachably fastening the staves 11 together, and consisting of a bracket or catch member 28 similar to the member 12 and attached to the inner face of the overlapping portion of the frame 23 and extending inwardly through an aperture in the other overlapping end and secured by a pin 29 or suitable device. The member 23 will be of a length corresponding to the thickness of the arched or crowning top and of a curb of sufficient depth around the entrance to the cistern, and the member 23 is reduced in diameter as at 26 below its lower edge, and extending downwardly into the cistern structure to provide a support for the inner ends of the members forming the arching or crowning form. The mold form for the arched top above noted consists of a plurality of plates or staves 3 1 with their sides converging toward the member 23 and disposed at an upwardly trending angle or incline and reaching from the upper edges of the staves 11 to the member 23 and bearing against its reduced portion 26, with the upper edges of the reduced ends of the converging staves bearing beneath the lower edge of the portion 23. The reduced portion 26 thus serves as a support to the convergin staves to prevent them from dropping downwardly, as will be obvious. Near the lower larger ends, the plates or staves 34: are provided with transverse stop mem bers 38, preferably formed from sections of L-bars, and bearing against the inner faces of the staves -11 when the staves 34 are in operative position, as shown in Fig. 2.

Surrounding the member 23 is an annular member 27 formed from a single sheet of metal, preferably smooth steel, with its ends overlapping with the inner lapping portion provided with a staple 28 extending through the outer lapping portion to provide means for the reception of a key 29 to detachably support the member 27 in its annular shape. The member 27 corresponds to the outer diameter of the curb which surrounds the entrance aperture, and will be of a depth corresponding to the depth of the curb above the arched top, and will be employed as hereafter explained.

A sheet of metal 30 preferably smooth steel is provided and corresponding in diameter to the outside diameter of the cistern, and is deposited upon the foundation upon which the cistern is erected, and this foundation will generally be the bottom of an excavation in the ground, as the cisterns forming the subject-matter of the present invention are generally erected beneath the surface of the ground, and an excavation of suitable size to receive the outer mold form is first made, and slightly larger than the mold form, and the base plate 30 is then disposed in the bottom of this excavation, the ground beneath the plate being leveled to receive it. The outer mold form composed of the plates 10 is then disposed in the excavation and resting by its lower ends upon the base 30, the length of the staves 10 corresponding to the total depth of the cistern including the vertical sides, the bottom of the cistern indicated at 31, the arched top indicated at 32, and if preferred the staves 10 may be continued until their upper edges are level with the upper edge of the curb indicated at 33, but generally the outer staves 10 will not be extended above the upper edge of the lower spring of the arch or crown 32, while the inner staves 11, as before noted, extend from the upper face of the bottom 31 to the interior face of the spring of the arch or crown 32. The sides 10 are then united by the rod 16, to support the outer mold form in position. Enough of the plastic ma terial is then deposited upon the plate 30 within the outer mold form to form the bottom 31. and suitably tampered to secure a requisite density to the upper surface and smoothed or troweled to a certain extent and the inner mold form composed of the staves 11 disposed in position within the outer mold form and spaced therefrom uniformly with the lower edges of the staves 11 resting upon the cement material forming the bottom 31, and the detachable staves 1.1 locked together by means of the rod 22. The converging sides are then disposed in position with the mold form 23 for the central aperture arranged in position to support the converging staves as above noted. The plastic material is then deposited between the main mold forms and suitably tamped and compressed to produce the requisite density and the supply of the plastic material also deposited upon the inclined form composing the crown or arch to produce the requisite thickness and suitably troweled upon its outer face to produce a uniform thickness of the crown or arch. The outer frame 27 is then disposed in position to form the outer side of the curb and a sufficient quantity of the material deposited between the members 23 and 27 to form this curb,

as above noted. The plastic material is then permitted to set until sul'liciently hard to resist the tendency to collapse. The rod 16 is then withd awn and the plates 14. disconnected therefrom, which releases the outer form staves 10 and permits them to be distended sutliciently to be drawn upwardly, it being understood that the walls of the excavation are sul'l'iciently spaced from the outer mold form to permit this slight enlargement of the outer mold form to enable it is to be removed readily. The rod 22 of the inner mold form is then removed which releases the members of the inner mold form and )ermits them to be rolled together to a SlllllClGlll) extent by the flexibility of the connections 171.8 to enable them to be re moved through the aperture defined by the member 23. This removal of the staves 11 also releases the converging sides and permits them to fall into the cistern, from which they may be removed through the aperture. The members 23 and 27 may then be removed by detaching the pins ZS-29, as will be obvious.

After the material has sufficiently set earth will be deposited between the outer walls of the cistern and the walls of the previously made excavation and suitably tamped, and earth will also be deposited upon the top of the crmvning or arch portion and leveled oll even with the top of the crown. If preferred, the curve portion of the cistern may be extended any required distance above the ground, to prevent surface water from running into the cistern.

Suitable apertures for the down spouts from roofs or for the insertion of pumps or other means for withdrawing the water may be provided as represented at by providing one or more of the converging plates 34 with an aperture, and supporting in that aperture a suitable tubular member 36 which may be Withdrawn, or which may be left as' a permanent part of the cistern as may be preferred. A suitable cover may also be provided, and molded from the plastic material of which the cistern is constructed and will preferably be formed as shown at 37 with a downwardly extending marginal flange 38 to bear over the upper edge of the curb portion of the cistern.

The inner faces of the staves 10, 11 and 34 and the frame 27 and the outer face of the member 23 and the upper face of the base plate 30 are smooth, preferably planished, so that the outer faces of the plastic material Will be correspondingly smooth as if burnished or glazed to increase the hardness of the outer face of the cistern structure to enable it to more successfully resist the entrance of moisture, and also to resist the tendency of the water in the cistern to escape. The cistern is thus rendered practically impervious to the passage of moisture, and this imperviousness as above noted is produced by forming the surface of the various staves which go to make up the mold form of smooth or planished metal. This is an important feature of the invention and adds very materially to the value and efficiency of the device. The mold elements may thus be repeatedly employed, as will be obvious.

If a larger or smaller cistern is to be erected, this can readily be done by simply employing a greater or lesser number of the various staves, as they are formed interchangeably, and will be of metal sufliciently flexible to enable them to be bent inwardly or outwardly as the cistern to be erected is larger or smaller. The mold members 1011 may be disposed at any distance apart to increase or decrease the thickness of the vertical walls and the crown or arch may also be of any required thickness, to withstand any pressure to which it may be subjected.

\Vhen the device is employed for abnormally large cisterns the crown or roof portion may require intermediate supports and these supports may be in the form of columns of the plastic material disposed at intervals, or supports in arching form may be employed for this purpose, if required. With the device thus constructed it is obvious that a cistern may be very quickly constructed by setting up the three mold members, namely, the outer mold form composed of the staves 10, the inner vertical portion formed by the staves 11, the arched top formed by the converging staves 34 and the inlet aperture formed by the annular members 23 and 27, and theninserting into the space between the various mold forms properly prepared cement compound and tamping the compound with sufficient force to produce the requisite impervious hard and smooth exterior by the contact of the material with the smooth surface of the staves and permit the same to remain until it is properly set or becomes hard, and the mold staves withdrawn as. before stated, leaving the cistern intact and likewise leaving the mold forms in condition to be repeatedly employed. A cistern thus constructed possesses eficient sanitary properties, as deleterious substances or liquids will not pass through the walls of the cistern constructed as above described with the impervious hard outer face. Thus the cistern may be erected in localities that would otherwise be deleterious, such as in swampy localities or localities impregnated with disease germs either in the water or in the soil, as such germs cannot pass through the walls of the cistern constructed as above described.

Any suitable composition of plastic material may be employed for the walls of the cistern, but preferably cement and sand will be employed for this purpose with about one part of cement and three parts of sharp sand and just sufficient water to enable the material to be properly deposited between the mold forms and tamped therein, care being taken not to use too great a quantity of water in the compound.

It will be understood that cisterns of abnormal depth may require an increased number of catch devices, but this will not affect the principle of the invention, and will not require to be illustrated, as it does not call for any change of structure.

The improved structure may be erected above the ground, or partly above the ground, and when this is done the outer series of staves may require supports of suitable kind, for instance a temporary wooden structure may be employed, but as this supporting structure is not a part of the invention it is not illustrated.

In some localities, or in some conditions of'the foundation upon which the cistern is to be erected the plate 30 may be dispensed with, and the cement placed directly upon the soil and troweled or otherwise smoothed to receive a finish strata of the cementitious material.

hat is claimed, is

1. In an apparatus of the class described, an outer and an inner shell spaced apart and each formed of a plurality of plates; means for detachably uniting one pair of the plates of said outer shell; means for undetachably and flexibly uniting the remaining plates of the outer shell; means for detachably uniting one pair of plates of the inner shell; and means for undetachably and flexibly uniting the remaining plates so that the vertical edges of adjacent plates may be moved toward or away from each other in parallel relation, whereby the outer shell may be detached outwardly and the inner shell detached inwardly.

2. In an apparatus of the class described an outer and an inner shell spaced apart and each formed of a plurality of plates, means for detachably uniting one pair of the plates of said outer shell, means for nndetachably and flexibly uniting the remaining plates of the outer shell, means for detachably uniting one pair of the plates of the inner shell and means for undetachably and flexibly uniting the remaining plates of the inner shell, so that the vertical edges of adjacent plates may be moved toward or away from each other in parallel relation, an annular member having an external encircling shoulder and arranged above the upper line of the inner shell, a plurality of plates having converging sides and with coneaved upper ends conforming to and engaging against the annnlar member beneath the shoulder thereto, and stops carried by said converging plates and bearing against the members of the inner shell.

3. In an apparatus of the class described an outer and an inner shell spaced apart and each formed of a plurality of plates, overlapping at the edges, one of the plates in each shell having staples extending there from near its ends, hasps connected to an adjacent plate of each shell and adapted to engage respectively over the staples of the other plate, a locking rod extending through the last mentioned staples externally of the hasps, locking members connected to the remaining plates of the inner shell and extending respectively through the remaining hasps and with outturned terminals preventing detachment of the lockmg members and permitting the vertical edges of ad acent plates to be moved toward or away from each other in parallel relatlon.

In testimony whereof, I alhx my signature, 1n presence of two witnesses.

CLAYTQN B. ELLIOTT. lVrtnesses IRMA BREWER,

T GEORGE 1OUNG. 

